Caribou Crossing by Susan Fox Page B

themselves—but not because they were sleepy.
    Miriam smiled at that thought as she drove through the town center. Caribou Crossing was quiet at this hour, though lights glowed through the windows of the Roadhouse restaurant and the Round-Up coffee shop. Gaudy neon marked the windows of The Gold Nugget Saloon, a sleazy bar she always avoided. The door of the bar opened and a couple came out, voices raised in what sounded like a drunken argument. Light gleamed briefly on the woman’s blond hair as Miriam drove past them, grateful that Wade was her husband. The two of them rarely disagreed, much less out and out fought.
    A few blocks down, the Lucky Strike was humming. Nostalgically, Miriam remembered Valentine’s Day the previous year. She and Wade had sent Jessica to a sleepover at Bly Ranch—a treat she always loved—and had a wonderful dinner at the Roadhouse, along with other romantic couples of all ages. Then they’d walked over to the Lucky Strike and danced until the place closed. Tipsy, laughing, arms tight around each other, they’d tramped home in the snow and made love until dawn.
    This year, he’d given her a dozen red roses. The grocery store kind, not from a florist. But that huge mortgage hung over their heads, and at least her hubby, who had so much on his mind these days, had remembered it was Valentine’s Day and told her he loved her. They hadn’t made love until dawn, but they’d had some pretty fine sex all the same.
    Wade might not be as romantic as he used to be, but he was a loving husband and the sex, when they were both awake enough to indulge, was still terrific.
    Her spirits rose as she left town and headed east on the dark secondary highway that led to the ranch. Traffic was light and, despite the chill, the winter night was lovely: A clear, starry sky illuminated the crisp white snow that coated each rail of the roadside fences and blanketed the rolling ranch land.
    She was so lucky to live in this beautiful country, with her wonderful husband. Tonight, despite tiredness and aches and pains, she was going to seduce Wade. First, though, she’d get him to massage her sore lower back. That thought warmed her enough to survive the fifteen-minute drive.
    She pulled the car next to the Bly Ranch truck in the garage, then hurried into the house. Wade was in the kitchen, putting the dried dishes away.
    â€œThank you, sweetheart.” She came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Jessica in bed?”
    â€œReading a horse book and waiting for a good-night kiss. Speaking of which . . .” He turned and gathered her close for a long, slow kiss.
    When their lips parted, he said, “You feeling okay? I saw you rubbing your back earlier.”
    â€œThe baby’s finding its feet. Nothing major.” She winced as another of those weird cramps tugged at her insides.
    â€œSay good night to Jessie, then have a bath and I’ll give you a massage.”
    He’d volunteered; she didn’t even have to ask. “You’re the best,” she said gratefully. Then she squeezed his backside. “You know what else relieves pain and relaxes me?”
    â€œOrgasm,” he said promptly. “I can help you out with that.”
    Feeling better by the moment, she said, “I knew I could count on you.”
    â€œAlways glad to be of service.”
    Laughing softly, she headed upstairs, stopping to press a hand to her side as the little one acted up again. “Go to sleep, you,” she murmured, before going to say a quick good night to her daughter. Jessica, at least, was drowsy. The girl was so active all day, she dropped off to sleep quickly and slept soundly.
    In the bathroom, Miriam turned on the water in the tub. She’d love it hot, but stuck to warm because it was better for the baby. In went a handful of Epsom salts, a trick her doctor had taught her during her first pregnancy. And thinking of the